UFN 78: Magny Vs. Gastelum Coverage

Tonight’s event comes to us from the Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

In the headline bout, welterweights Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum compete to move up the ladder. Originally, Gastelum was scheduled to face Matt Brown, but a training injury knocked Brown out.

Magny (16-4) has won eight of his last nine, falling only to Demian Maia in Brazil earlier this year. Gastelum (11-1) suffered his first pro defeat to Tyron Woodley in January, but bounced back with a TKO vs. Nate Marquardt.

We’ll kick the main card off with lightweights Efrain Escudero (24-9) and Leandro Silva (19-2) doing battle. Escudero, a former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, was a coach on the recent season of TUF: Latin America alongside tonight’s main event contestant, Kelvin Gastelum.

Round 1: Early feeling out process for these two, but it’s Escudero who has control of the Octagon. Silva lands with a body kick and they clinch, and the favorite lands with a right as well. He appeared to stun Escudero for a brief moment. All Silva in the first with his effective striking.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Silva

Round 2: Good start for Silva, who is showing his speed and striking at ease, but Escudero times up a takedown perfectly and scores. Butterfly guard, which has allowed Escudero to get in a little ground-and-pound. Escudero catches a foot and trips Silva to the canvas for a second takedown, moving into top position and two minutes left.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Escudero

Round 3: Escudero working the body and showing even better striking this round, as maybe fatigue is catching up to Silva. Just as that happens, though, Silva finds his range by avoiding a takedown and connecting. Silva getting into a good groove, vending off multiple takedown attempts. He sprawls and reverses, taking the back and immediately securing hooks. Silva briefly flirted with a twister, but is back to working for the rear-naked choke.

Our first of two Ultimate Fighter finals will take place in the lightweight division, as Enrique Barzola meets Horacio Gutierrez.

Round 1: Heavy, compact striking from Barzola, but Gutierrez has the reach advantage and appears to be the more effective striker. Nasty leg kick connects from Gutierrez with a thud, as does a second. Single-leg takedown for Barzola, as he uses it to record a slam and take the back. He’s a little over-zealous, but calms himself and is working for control. Gutierrez pulls guard as he tries for a guillotine to no avail. Gutierrez sweeps to his feet but is once again taken down for a third time.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Barzola

Round 2: Much like the first, a takedown scores for Barzola, who is dominating the numbers with his ground-and-pound. Strength from Barzola is the difference in this one, as he’s able to keep Gutierrez on the canvas. He’s broke open a cut on his forehead with strikes from the top and is just all over the favorite. Good upkicks from Gutierrez, but they miss and Barzola is back on top.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Barzola

Round 3: Better start for Gutierrez, who needs to show something this round. He defends one takedown, but the single is there for Barzola and he scores. Wild upkicks are not connecting for Gutierrez as the seconds begin to tick away. Elbows are landing from the top by Barzola.